Breakdown of Собственник решил засеять три пятых луга.
три
three
решить
to decide (perfective)
пятый
fifth
собственник
owner (legal)
луг
meadow
засеять
to sow (an area, perfective)
Questions & Answers about Собственник решил засеять три пятых луга.
How does the grammar of три пятых (three fifths) work in this sentence?
Fractions are built using a cardinal number for the numerator (три) and an ordinal number for the denominator (пятых). Because the numerator is the number 3, the denominator acts like an adjective following a number and takes the genitive plural form (пятых).
Why is the denominator based on the feminine form пятая if луг (meadow) is masculine?
Fraction denominators always agree with the hidden, implied feminine word часть (part). You are literally saying "three fifth parts of a meadow" (три пятых части луга). The gender of the actual object being measured (луг) does not change the gender of the fraction itself.
Why is луга in the genitive singular rather than plural?
The noun following a mathematical fraction always takes the genitive case, because it answers the question "a fraction OF what?". Since the owner is sowing a fraction of one single meadow, луг becomes the genitive singular луга. If it were "three fifths of the meadows," you would use the genitive plural лугов.
Why use the perfective verb засеять instead of the imperfective засевать?
The verb решил (decided) is followed by a perfective infinitive here because it refers to a specific, one-time future action with a desired result. The owner intends to complete the action of sowing those three fifths, rather than focusing on the ongoing routine or process of doing it.
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